Washer drive mechanism



A. R. CURTIS WASHER DRIVE MECHANISM Filed April 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov- 24, 1925. y 1,562,44o

Nov. 24, 1925,.

A.R.cuRws WASHER DRIVE MECHANISM Filed April 23. 1923 2 Sheets-Shaet 2 iiiatcnted hier. .2i-1' Unirse STATI-:s

ARTHUR R. CURTIS, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WASHER DRIVE MECHANISM.

Application filed April 23, 1923.

To all 'zr/zout fit f/nua/ conce/rn:

Be it known that I, Airrnun ll. CUirris, a citizen ot the United Sta-tes. residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State ot Ohio, have invented a certain new anduseul Improvement in lVasher Drive Mechanism, ot which the followingA is a full, clear, and exact description.

AThis invention relates to a drive mechanism in which the driving* connection is established` alternately between a shaft and two driving members rotatably mounted on the shaft, and more particularly to an automatic reversing drive mechanism adapted for the purposeotl rotating a driven member a predetermined number ot revolutions alternately in opposite directions. Driving mechanisms ot this kind may be used for a ariety ot different purposes, such tor eX- ainple as iin conjunction with a washing' inachine iter the purpose oit rotating the cylinder through a number oi revolutions alternately in opposite directions.

lt is the object of the invention to provide a driving mechanism et the character reilicrred to which comprises a minimum numbcr el parts and which occupies a minimum amount oi: space, and in which all the parts are ot simple and rugged construction.

Further, the invention aims to provide an automatically operating reversingI mecha- 'nism in which there is a positive driving` interlock between the shatt and driving` ineinb'ers and in which the reverse is obtained Vwithout producing a jerky action either in the driving connections or reversing` gears irrespective ot whether the drivenmeniber is oilierating with or without load.

. "further object is to provide the reversncars with an automatic clutch shitting` znocluinisni entirely housed within the reven-ungl gear housinl and entirely independent oi" the manually operated devices tor connecting and disconnecting the driving connections and operating` motor.

)L turthcr object is to provide conibined clutch and b 'aking elements in connection with the reversing gears whereby a braking connection is exerted upon the driven 'part as its direction ot .movement is being reversed and prior to the establishment ot the positive driving interlock through which the driven part is operated in the reverse direction.

Serial No. 633,969.

Other objects will be apparent fromthe 'following' description and the accompanyingdrawings.

The following description and accompanying drawings set forth in detail certain n'ieans embodying' the invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one oitthe various mechanical Yforms in which the principle oit the invention may be employed.

Reference should be had to the accompanying` drawings forming a part of this specification in which- Fig. l a vertical section through a washing; machine showing the reversing drive inccl'ianieinapplied thereto; l

Fig'. Q is a vertical section on the line 2-2 ot Fig. l;

Y Fig. 3 isa horizontal section on/the line 3-3 or' Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a `lragmentary circumferential transverse section through the portion o't a gg'car engaged by the shittable clutch key as it would appear straightened intoa plane;

' Fig. 5 and Fig. G show the key shifting star wheel in vertical section and in side elevation respectively. v

heter-ring to the accompanyingir drawings, the washer is provided with a suitable angle iron `frame work l which supports the washer tub 2 in which is detachably and rotatably mounted the horizontally disposed cylinder 3 which has a trunnion 4 at one end seated in an open `topped trunnion socket 5 carried by an end wall ot the vtub and dctachably supported at its opposite end upon a driving head 6 at the inner end oit the cylinder operating shaft 7 which projects 'through the end wallet the tub. The cylinder operating` shaft V7 is journaled adjacent its inner end in a bearing; S termed upon the .inner wall ot a gear housing' 9 and at its outer ond is journaled .in a bearing l() formed in a detachable housing cover plate 1l at the `outer side oit the housing 9. rlhe housing),` 9

contains therein the reversing` gears and an rautoniatic clutch shift-ing mechanism7 the entire reversing mechanism being housed wholly within the housing 9. The housing` 9 is dctachably secured to the washer trame by means oit suitably attaching bolts 12.

rlhe reversing mechanism within the housing V9 is driven by a suitable vertically disposed shalt 18 which extends through the bottom ot the housing 9 and is provided at its lower end with a belt pulley 14 which is aligned with a belt pulley 15 at the upper end of the motor shaft 16 of a vertically disposed electric Vmotor 17 rigidly attached to a portion of the supporting frame, the pulleys 14 and 15 being connected by a suitable driving belt 1S. The driving connection between the motor and the drive shaft 13 is preferably controlled by a combined belt tightener and clutch device such as shown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 633,972 Filed April 23, 1923, in which a driving connection is established by moving a tightening pulley into engagement wi-th .the belt and is established by Imoving the tightening pulley out of engagement by the belt. So far as the present invention is concerned, however, any suitable manually operated device may be employed for establishing. and disestablishing fthevdriving connection between theunotor and the reversing mechanism.

The vertically disposed driving shaft 13 has a worm 19 fixed thereto adjacent its upper end which meshes lwith theteeth cfa worm wheel 2O which is rotatably mounted lupon the cylinder operating' shaft 7 adjacent the `inner side of the housing 9. The shaft 13 has-a spiral gear 21 xed thereto within the housing and adjacent the bottom thereof which-meshes with the spiral gear 22 fixed -toa horizontal shaft23 which extends along -the bottom of the housing). The horizontal shaft 23 has-a worm'24 fixed thereon which 4meshes with the teeth of a worin wheel 25 bear-ings `8 and 10 formed Iin the Asides of the housingand an inner-collar 28 fixed to the shaft 7 between the worm gears 2O and 25.

Thegears and 25 are heldagainst longitudinal movement `upon the operating shaft 7` by means ofthe hubs 26,and 27 thereof which are interposed between the bearings ofthe shaft 7 :and` the central collar 28 on the shaft 7.

Ailt will be seen that by means of the .driving gea-rs above-described ythe worm wheels 2O and 2 5 will be continually driven in oppositedireetions while the drive shaft 13 is being driven from the motor 17.

The central collar 2 8 has an integral radial ayrm whieh is forked to provide parallel branches V29.and 30 which are spaced apart just far enough to receive a flat key bar 31 which is pivoted=at its inner -end upon a pivot p ini32 carried by -the branches 29 and a-and extend-ing transverselyv with respect to the lshaft 7. The gears v20 :and 25l have suitable driving lugs 33 projecting from the Vinner faces thereof-which are adapted to engage .thelrey-barBl to rotate the cylinder eperatue'shaft 7. Where the-gears arefprovided with more than one driving lug these lugs will be regularly spaced circumferentially of the gears. In advance of each of the driving lugs 33 there is an arcuate inclined raised portion 34 upon the inner faces of the gears with which the key bar 31 is adapted to engage prior to its engagement with Lthe driving lug. The inclined portions 34 preferably extend from adjacent the front `faeeof one lug about half way to the next driving lug. A notch 35 is provided immediately in front of each driving 4lug 33 into which the key bar 31 is adapted to snap after it has passed over the inclined raised vportions'34. kThe latch bar 31 has spot in- -identations 36 and 37 upon its opposite side faces adjacent its outer end which are adaptend to be engaged by pins 33 slidably mounted in the outer ends of lthe forks 29Y and 30.

The outer ends ofthe pins -38 are engaged 37 and the Iindentations 36 and 37 are so arranged that when lvthe pins 38 are in full engagement therewith the -key bar is releasably locked` in driving engagement with one or the other of the worm gears.

The key bar 31 has a pointed outer end 40 -which is adapted to engage with a star wheel 42 which is mounted upon a fixed shaft carried by the housing 9 and projects between the worm wheels 2O and 25. The star wheel 42 has regularly spaced teeth 43 which are engaged successively by the pointed end of the hey bar 3 1 at each revolution of lthe cylinder operating shaft 7. 'l`woxadjacent spaces between teeth of the -star wheel :have filled in portions 44 andA which are `formed with oppositely inclined surfaces/46 and 47 which are adapted to engage with the pointed end 40 of the key bar-'31 toalternatelyshift the key bar in opposite directions`r each shifting movement of the key bar being effected after a predetermined number of .revolutions of lthe cylinder operating sha-:tt 7.

The indentations -36 and 37 in the key bar 31 are arranged so closely together that the spring pressed `pins 3S will always operate to yieldingly press the key bar into engagementwith one or the other of the worm gears. Furthern'iore, .the gears 20 and 25 are arranged -so closely together that lthe key bar 31 moves into the path of the driving lug of lonetgear before it isentirely freed from the lug of the other driving gear and it is. impossible for the driving lug to oocupy the neutral position. In the operation ofthe reversing gear `thekey `bar 31 at each revolution .ofthe shaft 7 will engage with la tooth of the lstar wheel 42. and turn the star wheelan amount equal to the angular distance between the teeth; thereof. When the point end 1l() of the key bar 31v comes into engagen'ient with the inclined surface of one of the filled portions of the star wheel, the key bar will be shifted in a direction away from the gear with which .it is in driving engagement. rlhis shifting movement is sullicient'to move the indentations with which the pins 38 are out of engagement with the pin and to bring the other pair of indentations in engagement with the pins 38 so that the key bar 31 will be yieldingly pressed against the face of the gear toward which it has been moved. The star wheel is so disposed that the shifting of the key bar 3l occurs at a time when a flat portion of the inner face of the gear toward which the key bar is moved is opposite the key bar so that the key bar is always moved into engagement with the gear immediately in advance `of the inclined portion 34 leading to the driving lug. The action of the spring pressed pins 38 upon the depressions 36 and 37 is such that while the key bar is pressed toward the face of the gear there is a frictional resistance in addition to the spring pressure due to the engagement of the points of the pins against the inclined walls of the depressions which resist move- -ment of the key bar away from the face of the gear. As the arcuate inclined surface Zlt moves into engagement with the `key bar 3l the key bar will be forced outwardly against the frictional resistance offered by the spring pressed plates 3S engaging in the indentations in the bar exerting a strong braking action upon the shaft 'l' which will gradually bring the shaft 7 to rest and start the same moving in a reverse direction before the key bar 3l engages with the oppositely driving lug 33 and snaps into the notch The key bar and inclined faces of the worm gears eo-act in the reversing operation to frictimially absorb the momentum of the driven part and to gradually reverse the direction of movement thereof without any noticeable shock or jar and regardless of whether the driven part'is operating under a load or not. shifting portions of the star wheel are preferably so arranged that the reversing operation is performed while the opening of the cylinder is at the top of the tub. By reason of the worm gear drive the gears Q0 and 25 are instantly stopped and locked against rotation whenever the driving motor is disconnected. The operator may be shifting the drive controlling lever simultaneously with the click which occurs whenever the key bar 3l is shifted, instantly bringing the cylinder to a stop with the closure member thereof at the top of the cylinder and the cylinder will be locked-against rotary movement which is convenient when the clothes are being inserted or removed from the cylinder.

The key` i llaving described my invention, I claim' l. A drive mechanism comprising a shaft, a pair of shaft driving members rotatably mounted on said shaft, means for continuously driving` 'said members in opposite direetions, a clutch member rotatable with the shaft and movable into engagement with either of said members, said clutch member adaptedA to have a yielding frictional engagement with said members and a positive locking engagement therewith, and automatic means for periodically shifting said clutch member from engagement with one member into engagement with the other, said clutch member upon each actuation thereof moving first into frictional sliding engagement with a driving member and then into positive driving engagement therewith.

A drive mechanism comprising a shaft, a pair of gears rotatably mounted on the shaft, means for continuously driving'the gears in opposite directions, a clutch member rotatable with the shaft and movable from a position in which it engages one gear to a position in which it engages the other gear, means operable in either position of the clutch member for yieldingly pressing the clutch member towardthe gear which it engages, means on the gear adapted to be slidably engaged by the clutch member and acting to brake the shaft upon the initial ei-igagement of the clutch member with the gear, means on the gear adapted to engage the clutch to form a positive driving connection therewith, and means for automatically and periodically shifting the gear 'from one engaging position to the other and acting to first engage the clutch with the braking means on the gear and subsequently with the positive driving means. v

3. A drive mechanism comprising a shaft.l a pair of rotatable men'ibers loose on said shaft, an outwardly extending arm `fixed to the shaft between said rotatable members, a shiftable member carried by said arm and yadapted to be moved in opposite directions transversely with respect to the arm and longitudinally of the shaft into driving engagement with either gear, and means operating periodically upon a predetermined number of revolutions of the shaft in either direction to shift said shiftable member.

4. A drive mechanism comprising a shaft, a pair of rotatable members loose on said shaft, said members having lugs projecting inwardly from the inner faces thereof, an outwardly extending arm fixed to the shaftbetween said rotatable members, said arm'having a part movable in a direction transversely thereof and longitudinally of the shaft into the path of a lug of either of the rotatable members and means 'for shifting the movable partof the arm periodically upon a predetermined number of revolutions of the shaft in either direction.

llt() 5. A drive mechanism comprising a shaft, a pan' of gears loose on the shait, said .gears having driving lugs on their inner faces, an arm fixed to the shaft between the gears and a key pivoted at its inner end to said arm and movable into engagement with either gear.

6. A drive mechanism comprising a shaft, a'pair of gears loose on the shaft, said gears having driving lugs on their inner faces, an arm fixed to the shaft between the .means operating periodically upon a predetermined number of revolutions of the shaft in either direction to shift said shiftable member.

8. A drive mechanism comprising a shaft, a pair of, gears loose on the shaft, said gears having .driving lugs on their inner faces, an outwardly extending arm fixed to the shaft between the gears, a key pivoted at its inner endto said arm and movable about said .pivot and transversely of the arm into engagement with either gear, and means mounted on a fixed sup-port. and engageable with the outer end of the pivoted key to alternately shift the key in opposite directions to alternately connect the gears to .the shaft.

. 9. 'A drive mechanism zcomprising a shaft, a pair ofgears loose on the shaft, an arm rotatable with the shaft and having a part shiftable :in opposite directions longitudinally of :the shaft into driving engagement with eithergear, and a member mounted in vay position to be periodically Vengaged by said shilftable part during the rotation thereof and adapted to shift said part alternately into engagement with the gears, each shift occurring after a number of revolutions of the shaft.

lt). ik drive mechanism comprising a shaft, Va pair of gears loose on the sha-ft,

`driif'ing lugs on -the inner sides of the gears,

an arm rotatable with the shaft, avkey pivoted at yits innerend to the arm on an axis transverse with respect to .the shaft and extending past the end of the arm, a star `wheel mounted with the lteeth thereof iin position to be engaged by the outer end of pthekey .in the revolution thereof, said star wheel having portions with opposite lateral inclinations:alternately engageable with the key to shift the same alternately in opposite directions.

1l. In a drive mechanism, a shaft, a pair of Agears loose on the shaft, a shiftable key rotatable with the shaft and mounted between said gears, and a star wheel rotatably mountedvin a position in which the teeth thereof are engaged by the key to impart a step by ste-p movement to the wheel during the rotation of the shaft, said star wheelv having two of the peripheral spaces between teeth thereof partially filled and providing laterally and oppositely inclined key engaging surfaces adapted to alternately shift the key in opposite directions.

12. A drive mechanism comprising a shaft, a pair of gears loose on the shaft, driving lugs on the inner sides of the gears, a niember fixed to the shaft between the gears, a key pivoted at its inner end to the member on an axis transverse tothe shaft, the outer end of the key projecting outwardly beyond the member, said key being movable into the path of movement of the driving lug of either gear, and a member mounted on a fixed support in position to be engaged by the key during a. rotation of the shaft, said member having oppositely and laterally inclined surfaces adapted to be alternately engaged bythe outer end of the key to shift the same alternately in opposite directions.

13. A drive mechanism comprising a shaft, a pair of gears loose upon said shaft, a shiftable key rotatable with the shaft, said key being mounted between the gears and movableinto driving engagement with eithcil gear, a member mounted on a fixed support and having oppositely inclined surfaces adapted to be alternately engaged by'a part of the key to impart initial -movements to the key alternately in opposite directions, and spring means rotatable with the key for imparting the final movements to the key in both directions.

14. A drive mechanism comprising a shaft,

:a pair-of gears loose on the shaft, driving lugson the inner sides of the gears, an arm fixed to the shaft between the gears, a key pivoted at its inner end to said arm upon an axis transverse with respect to the shaft whereby said key an be swung about its pivot into the path of movement of a driving lug on either gear, said key having oppositely inclined portions on a side face thereof, a spring pressed member carried by the arm and engageable with one or the other of the inclined surfaces to yieldingly press the key into engagen'ient with one or the other of the gears, and means for imparting an initial movement to the key in either direction sufficient to shift one of the inclined surfaces out of engagement with the spring pressed member and the other into engagement with said member whereby the key is shifted out of engagement with one gear and into the path of movement of the lug on the other gear.

A drive mechanism, comprising a shaft, a pair of gears loose on the shaft, said gears having driving lugs on the inner sides thereof and portions on their inner sides in advance of each lug inclined inwardly from adjacent the front faces of the lugs toward the central plane of the gear, a key rotatable with the shaft and mounted hetween the gears, 'said key being shiftable into the path of movement of a lug en either gear, means for shifting said key from engagement with the lng of one gear into engagement with the side of the other gear in advance of an inclined portion of the in* ner side thereof and for yielding-ly pressing said key into engagement with the side of the gear toward which it is shifted.

16. A drive mechanism coniprising a shaft, a pair of gears loose on the shaft, a key between the gears and rotatable with the shaft, said key being shittable into and out of driving engagement with either of the gears, means for .imparting an initial movement to the key in either direction, and means for exerting spring pressure upon the key to yieldingly press thc saine against the gear toward which it has been initially moved and for exerting frictional resistance to movement of the key in an opposite direction.

17. A drive mechanism comprising a shaft, a pair of gears loose on the shaft, said gears having driving lugs upon the inner sides thereof and arcuate raised portions inclined inwardly from adjacent the front faces of the lugs, a key between the gears rotatable with the shaft and movable alternately into engagement with the inner sides of the gears in the path of movement of the lugs, means for imparting initial movements to the keys to shift the same away from one gear toward the other, said means being operable when the key is opposite a portion of the inner side of the disengaged gear in advance of the inclined arcuate portion, and means for exerting spring pressure upon the key after the initial movement theieof to yieldingly press the same against the gear toward which it has been moved and for imposing a frictional resistance to the reverse movement of the key caused by the movement thereof over the inclined raised portion.

18. A drive mechanism comprising a shaft, a pair of gears loose on the shaft, means for continuously ydriving said gears in opposite directions, a lshiftable key between the gears, said key being rotatable with the shaft and movable into driving engagement with either gear, a movable member mounted on a fixed support and actuated by the driving means, said member having oppositely inclined surfaces adapted to he alternately engaged by a part of the shift able member in the rotation thereof and to shift said member in opposite directions to cause the shaft to be alternately driven in opposite directions.

19. A drive mechanism comprising a shaft, a pair of gears loose on the shaft, said gears having driving lugs on their inner sides, means for continuously driving the gears in opposite directions, driving member fixed to the shaft between the gears, a key in the form of a fiat bar having a pointed outer end and pivoted to the driving member at its inner end on an axis transverse with respect to the shaft, said bar having laterally spaced depressions on a side face thereof, a spring pressed pin carried by the driving member and engageable with. said depressions to yieldingly hold the key in engagement with either gear, and means for shifting the key bar from either engaging positions toward the other comprising a star wheel the teeth of which are engaged by the outer end of the key bar, said star wheel having lled in portions between teeth with oppositely inclined faces engageable with the pointed end of; the key bar to shift the same alternately in opposite directions.

` 20. A drive mechanism comprising a cylinder operating shaft, a pair of closely adjacent worm gears rotatable upon said shaft, means for continuously 'driving said gears in opposite directions comprising two worm shafts disposed at an angle to each other and having worms enga-ging the gears at angularly spaced points and meshing spiral gears for ldriving one shaft from the other and means for driving one of the worm shafts, and means for alternately clutching said worm gears to the cylinder operating shaft.

21. In a drive mechanism, the combin ation with a washer supporting frame, a gear housing at an end of the frame, a horizontal cylinder operating shaft j ournaled in the housing and having an end projecting through the inner wall of the housing, a pair of closely adjacent worm gears rotatable on said shaft, a vertical shaft extending into said housing and having a worm thereon engaging one of the worm gears, means for driving said worm shaft, a horizontal shaft journaled in the housing and having a worm thereon engaging the other worm wheel, spiral gears fixed to the two worm shafts and meshing with each other whereby said worm wheels are continuously rotated in opposite directions and means within the housing operating automatically to alternately connect said worm gear to the cylinder operating shaft.

In testimony whereof, I hereuntoaffix my signature.

ARTHUR R. CURTIS. 

